People who do long commutes in their T4r?

[Steamfitter]

I do a lot of travelling for work, but my '13 T4R is only at about 57K miles. Basically, I am looking at possibly working in a sh!thole town on a 7 days on/7 days off schedule on a long term basis. Because I hate this town, but it is a pretty good paying job and the economy is really bad right now. I would like to live in a bigger city that's about ~7 hours west on my weeks off. So, I would be putting on about 25,000 miles a year from driving. Not sure if this is crazy or not, but desperate times call for desperate measures I guess?

Anyone else put on serious commuter miles in their T4R? Or did you buy a beater to mile out?

 

[TrdinOhio]

I have a beater that I use for work, keeps the miles off the 4Runner and makes me enjoy it more when I do drive it.
Get a 4 door cheap sedan if you don't need to haul much stuff. Highway miles are always better in a car than a truck IMO. Also you don't have to worry about windshield rock chips, rockers taking a beating and the fuel costs to keep the 4Runner fed. I actually enjoy a beater as I have very little concern if someone hits it or if it's going to storm and we may get hail.
It's a 2005 Scion TC with 150K miles. It's reliable, cheap as hell on gas and cheap to maintain. It was my wife's old car and rather than trading it in for 2000 bucks I decided to keep it until Mother Earth takes it back. I think it's made up the 2000 bucks many times over.

 

[Ezlife45]

I disagree with the previous poster.
I drive 60 miles each way for work, been working there for 11 years. A little econobox would suck. I prefer larger vehicles because I see these little death traps all over the road. Where i work everybody drives a 3/4 ton truck and they drive like jerks. I like fullsize trucks/suvs, cars.
They ride better, have lower road noise, are easier to see in traffic, the elevated ones (trucks/suv's) can help you predict surprises on the road.

Plus with the elevated vehicles you also don't get that headlight glare from all the inconsiderate jerks that drive down the road with their high beams on.
Sure my T4R is not my daily driver today but when I wear out my 15 year old truck it will be.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I do a lot of travelling for work, but my '13 T4R is only at about 57K miles. Basically, I am looking at possibly working in a sh!thole town on a 7 days on/7 days off schedule on a long term basis. Because I hate this town, but it is a pretty good paying job and the economy is really bad right now. I would like to live in a bigger city that's about ~7 hours west on my weeks off. So, I would be putting on about 25,000 miles a year from driving. Not sure if this is crazy or not, but desperate times call for desperate measures I guess?

Anyone else put on serious commuter miles in their T4R? Or did you buy a beater to mile out?

Sh!thole town? Sounds like you may be working in my town lol.

My wife and I both commute 30 miles each way to work, to different places and schedules, so the miles are racking up but we just really like driving these 4runners. Plus, there's elk, deer, cattle, and sometimes some horses that could be on the road and I would probably rather hit one of those in a taller vehicle, not that I want to hit one at all. The last 5 miles of my commute is getting rougher by the day so feel the 4runner handles that better than a car. Highway miles are easy miles on a vehicle so I wouldn't worry to much about the miles.

 

[Metallurgist]

I take a mix of back roads and highway for 70 miles roundtrip each day. I use my Corolla for that commute though... Double the fuel mileage, so why not? After a while, any car is a car for commuting. I used to try to justify the nicer ride and the safety and all that, but that was really an excuse for me to drive what I enjoyed more. Once I simplified, you learn you don't miss that stuff you were trying to justify as much as you'd think.

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[PWD4R]

I disagree with the previous poster.
I drive 60 miles each way for work, been working there for 11 years. A little econobox would suck. I prefer larger vehicles because I see these little death traps all over the road. Where i work everybody drives a 3/4 ton truck and they drive like jerks. I like fullsize trucks/suvs, cars.
They ride better, have lower road noise, are easier to see in traffic, the elevated ones (trucks/suv's) can help you predict surprises on the road.

Plus with the elevated vehicles you also don't get that headlight glare from all the inconsiderate jerks that drive down the road with their high beams on.
Sure my T4R is not my daily driver today but when I wear out my 15 year old truck it will be.

Death traps? Generally cars are safer than SUVs/trucks.
You just seem to have an illogical approach here

Realistically, highway miles are easy miles on a vehicle. 300k highway miles is probably better than 80k city miles. Personally I would keep the miles off the runner, keep it nice and buy a $5k 2010 civic or corolla. They're not that bad at all and it'll be cheaper to drive. If something breaks then F it. Well it for a grand and get something else or fix it and drive it longer.

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[Albacore]

I agree with the first 2 responses. I drive 85 miles each way for work. Thankfully I don't do it everyday but the miles and stops at the gas station do add up. I have a Civic just for commuting. The inside is immaculate but the hood is scarred with rock chips and I just had the windshield repaired. Every time I hear something from the road skip across my hood I cringe. But I'm also glad that I'm in my commuter and not my 4Runner. I like the gas mileage and don't worry about body damage but I hate riding so low. Ultimately you just have to decide what's more important to you -- gas milage, road hazards, or enjoying your drive.

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[Lolrax]

Just drive your 4Runner. Not sure what you're trying to preserve, it is one of the most reliable vehicles in existence and it is built to be used. Trying to preserve resale value is a huge waste of time.

 

[5ontheFloor]

Just drive your 4Runner. Not sure what you're trying to preserve, it is one of the most reliable vehicles in existence and it is built to be used. Trying to preserve resale value is a huge waste of time.

Unless you're like me and total your T4R within two years of purchase. I had planned to have that one for a long time, but life happened. Even with high miles I was not upside down.

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[Lolrax]

Unless you're like me and total your T4R within two years of purchase. I had planned to have that one for a long time, but life happened. Even with high miles I was not upside down.

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Obsessing over resale to the point of buying a second car just to commute in is something I can't fathom. If you wanted to have a commuter car then keep a GT500 for weekends I would get it a bit but I don't know what is happening here.

OP, are you are worried about putting miles on your 4Runner to the point of buying a second car to travel said miles?

 

[Khjphoto]

The 6,000+ MILE COMMUTE

Does this count? I have to drive out to Kalifornia once a year to check on my property from the Mid-Atlantic. Log more the 6,000 miles, often more then 7,200 miles. Isn't all work, for usually stop in Silverton, Co, or the Jackson Hole area for a little "play". Aside from the annual trio - it's just a "mall crawler". East of the 'Mississippi" is SO BORING!

 

[Travisstorma]

I use my 4Runner for field service of X-ray equipment at hospitals around the region.

I drive usually 2,000 to 4,500 miles a month. I need the room for tools, test equipment and parts.

I like it. It isn't loaded, but I wanted something I enjoy driving since I spend so much time in it.


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[tek4R]

I Daily my sr5. Nothing beats heated seats in the morning

 

[jpachard]

I've never understood the logic in buying a second car for a long commute. Since it's for getting one to work it must be reliable so you are looking at spending 5k minimum. Then add on top of that maintenance, registration, insurance etc and you are close to 7k. For the first year. That is A LOT of gas and care for your 4Runner.


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[mnofpeace]

Is there a way to mix things up?

My commute isnt as long, depending on where i have to report to, scheduling, etc. sometimes its 30 miles each way, sometimes its 50. i have my T4R, i also have a beater-2003 F150 that runs like an american swiss watch, and i have a sport-touring motorcycle as well-with side cases and all to carry my needs. In the warm months, i am on the bike most days to keep the miles from racking up on the runner and because getting 40mpg is pretty darn wonderful, any 'inbetween' days, i can take the pickup if i feel the need. it drives just fine, i own it outright so im going to drive it until it dies. but with a recent full tuneup, new rotors and brakes, it may just last me a few more years. then in the winters with the iffy weather, ill surely be in the runner because i know i can get from A to B.

sure, it adds a little more than the avg of yearly milage to the Runner, but it is what it is...everybody's gotta eat...so you go where the work is :fish:

 

[1engineer]

Two things:

I drive the 4Runner 30K/yr no problem. Why?

F=MA

 

[philsey]

Two things:

I drive the 4Runner 30K/yr no problem. Why?

F=MA

.... or, "my 4R will crush your Corolla".

 

[philsey]

If I did commute, it'd sure be in my 4R. I'll take mass, visibility, and road presence any day.

I don't believe the mileage penalty in value offsets the cost of a commuter vehicle/tags/insurance. Even if it did, my comfort on the highway is worth it.

 

[ncst8fan]

I have a 2012 Kia Optima EX that's usually my daily driver. I have enjoyed driving it. But I just got a 16 Limited 4x4 as my midlife crisis vehicle. I love driving that. It's all up to you

 

[07V8]

Used to drive 700 miles a week, now I drive less than half that. Yes, filling up every 3 days sucked but I don't want a small "commuter" car with the idiots on the road. Reliability and more importantly safety is why I will never drive a sedan. Ever.